The following training grant activities are required for current trainees and encouraged for past trainees who have not yet graduated.

GC665, Cell Signaling (fall semester)
GC645, Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics (spring semester); or other quantitative course, with permission of Program Directors
GC636, Principles of Career Management: Diverse Biomedical Careers (spring semester, Wednesdays 5-7 pm)

Trainees meet monthly to discuss their research and career goals. Trainee-only meetings provide a unique setting for interdisciplinary interactions and discussions around research projects, experimentation, and career goals. 

Trainees meet bi-monthly to discuss their research progress with Training Program trainees (past and present), members of the Executive Committee, and the mentor of the trainee that is presenting. These meetings are also used for general discussion of career goals and provide the opportunity for trainees to give input on the Training Program. 

The CBMS Data Club meets bi-monthly and is attended by all mentors and trainees. There are three activities in this meeting primarily centered around issues of rigor and reproducibility of data acquisition and analysis. The first involves presentations of topical data by either a trainee or mentor, with the strengths and shortcomings of the data and their interpretation discussed. A second activity involves discussion of the importance of scientific rigor, data reproducibility and biological variables in research. This includes viewing the NIH training modules on rigor and reproducibility that cover: 1) lack of transparency; 2) blinding and randomization; 3) biological and technical replicates; and 4) sample size, outliers, and exclusion criteria. A third activity is for trainees that have attended a scientific meeting to present an overview of exciting talks or major new findings described at the meeting. Finally, an important additional goal of the CBMS Data Club meetings is the facilitation of interactions and potential collaborations.

The CBMS Training Program holds an annual retreat that includes a synopsis and open discussion of the Training Program, a 30-minute research presentation by all trainees, and a research presentation by an outside speaker.  All Training Program trainees (past and current) as well as the Executive Committee are required to attend the retreat; all Program mentors are also invited.

All trainees are required to apply for extramural support from private or governmental foundations and agencies; this submission is already expected by all PhD programs. This is typically done in year 3, following preparation of and defense of the thesis proposal during the Comprehensive Examination.